Sunshine Stars scored a late goal to salvage a thrilling 3-3 draw with Ahly in Nigeria but the result leaves the Egyptian giants as overwhelming favourites to reach the African Champions League final.
The visitors looked on course for a comfortable win when attacking duo Mohamed Nagy ‘Gedo’ and El-Sayed Hamdi put them 2-0 up after 30 minutes.
Medrano Tamen pulled one back shortly after with a superb strike and Olurundare Dele leveled the score on 73 minutes after converting a penalty. In breathtaking moments, Gedo restored Ahly’s lead one minute later but the Red Devils failed to secure a famous win away from home.
An impressive free-kick from Osasco Precious with six minutes remaining kept alive the hopes of Champions League debutants Sunshine Stars to cause an upset and reach the final.
The Nigerians need to win in a fortnight in Cairo or secure a draw with a higher scoreline than 3-3 to go through. Ahly, the record winners with six titles under their belt, are eyeing their first triumph since 2008.
Title holders Esperance of Tunisia face TP Mazembe of the DR Congo in the other semi-final on Sunday.
Constant menace
Ahly had the better of the early exchanges, moving the ball around smoothly and causing constant menace to Sunshine defence.
They deservedly went ahead after 18 minutes when the unopposed Gedo sent a delightful right-foot shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Ahly - displaying an intricate passing game involving the likes of Abdallah El-Saied, Walid Soliman and Gedo - doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Hamdi exchanged passes with left-back Ahmed Shedid on the left before dinking the ball over the keeper and into the net from a tight angle.
Tamen narrowed the gap four minutes later when he cut inside Ahly defender Wael Gomaa, who looked shaky throughout the game, to send a curling shot into the far corner of the net.
Ahly wasted several chances to put the result beyond doubt early in the second half, including a powerful left-foot volley from El-Saied which struck the woodwork.
They were punished when Sunshine Stars were awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute following a reckless lunge by Ahly defender Mohamed Naguib on an opponent. Dele converted the ensuing spot-kick past the despairing dive of keeper Sherif Ekramy.
Just one minute later, Gedo regained Ahly’s lead with a low shot from inside the area but the visitors were still made to pay for some sloppy defending.
They had to thank Ekramy for smothering some powerful and accurate shots from Sunshine Stars but he was powerless to stop the Nigerians from equalizing six minutes from time, thanks to a Precious goal.
Osasco Precious saw his outstanding free-kick sail over the wall and into the top corner of the net to keep Stars Shining, at least until the second leg.
